Palace defends EDCA sites

Malacañang on Monday defended the use of Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines, stressing their critical role as strategic hubs for disaster response and humanitarian assistance.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro said that the EDCA facilities provide faster and more organized aid to communities affected by calamities, such as the recent impacts of typhoon “Tino” and super typhoon “Uwan.”

“The EDCA sites are a big help when disasters strike us. It serves as hubs for faster delivery of assistance to our countrymen,” Castro said.

She also cited that the facilities often serve as temporary shelters for fishermen and as repacking centers for aid from agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

However, while Castro did not specify the exact deployment of EDCA sites in the ongoing response to the recent typhoons, she assured the public that coordination with the AFP continues to ensure the sites are fully leveraged during emergencies.

The President has also directed funds to local government units to accelerate rehabilitation in hard-hit areas, particularly those situated in no-building zones, Castro added.

The AFP separately confirmed the activation of all EDCA sites to support ongoing disaster response operations.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the facilities serve as key hubs for prepositioning military assets and as command and control centers for enhanced ground operations, including search, rescue, and relief missions.

“This is not the first time EDCA sites have been used during calamities,” Padilla said, describing them as “multirole facilities.”

Meantime, AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. noted that the activation of these sites underscores how the country’s defense partnerships, particularly with the United States, support Filipino troops on the ground.

The AFP is coordinating closely with the US Indo-Pacific Command to ensure seamless interoperability in using shared facilities, transport and airlift assets for humanitarian missions.

To recall, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. previously said that EDCA sites were strategically built in the country’s most disaster-prone areas, making them vital for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations alongside their role in maintaining territorial integrity.

The existing EDCA sites include Cesar Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija; Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro; Antonio Bautista Air Base and Balabac Island in Palawan; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu; Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan; and Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Isabela.